MANILA, Philippines — A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed and high-powered firearms were seized in an encounter in the hinterlands of Northern Samar on Wednesday.
The Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion said five M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, two anti-personnel mines, seven backpacks, subversive documents and other war materials were recovered at the scene.
Soldiers were dispatched in Barangay Senonogan in Pambujan town after a concerned citizen reported the presence of armed men extorting money from residents.
In Negros Occidental, 64 former members of the defunct Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group, now known as Kapatiran, have been integrated into the Armed Forces of the Philippines as members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliaries.
The 64 former rebels completed 45 days of basic military training in La Carlota City on Friday.